Give what you don't need to those who need it most
Computers
Check with your local Goodwill Industries or Salvation Army for its donation guidelines. Also try local schools, after-school programs, and homeless shelters for children.
Look for nonprofit organizations that specialize in redistributing technology, such as the National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org), which places refurbished computers in educational and nonprofit organizations for people with special needs, students at risk, and the economically disadvantaged; the Computer Recycling Center and Computers & Education (www.crc.org), which provides refurbished computers to public schools and community nonprofits; and the World Computer Exchange (www.worldcomputerexchange.org), which gives donated techno-goods to kids in developing countries.
Large Appliances
Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army, and other charities accept small appliances (toasters, mixers) in working condition. Policies on accepting large appliances (washers, dryers) vary by location. Check with your local branches.
Inquire with local nonprofits that run group homes about large-appliance donations.
The donation site Excess Access (www.excessaccess.com) makes do-gooding easy. After you pay a $3 to $10 listing fee for all your items — furniture, books, appliances, just about anything — the computers at Excess Access check the wish lists of participating nonprofits and notify the nearby charities of any matches. You then work directly with the charity to make arrangements (all Excess Access nonprofits are responsible for pickups) and the deal is done, complete with documentation so you can claim a tax deduction.
